Well, we're all in the mood for a melody...

[dishevelment]

Who: Koumei dishevelment and Luce giglio_madonna
What: "Piano Lessons"
When: Backdated to late afternoon on 10/5
Where: A quiet part of the city, where there are few crowds and an open piano
Warnings: F for Fluff


[The arrangements had been made discreetly, via text messages while they recovered from the partying from the weekend. It was a monday, and they both knew that free time would be a valuable commodity in the coming days.

This was a rare opportunity-- and Koumei looked forward to seeing the elegant and kindly woman once again.

Bundling his long hair up into an untidy bun and taking extra care to be sure that his clothes were in a proper state, Koumei put on his most non-descript jacket, a pair of chunky shades to match the theme of his bracelets, and a pair of flip flops despite the growing autumn chill to meet her at the quiet little jazz bar he knew in the few hours of quiet before it opened it's doors to the public. The wooden floors and vintage furniture set the stage amid eclectic art and vibrant tapestries. Nestled in the corner was an old but well kept piano...

There was no reason not to play while he waited.]

Comments

[giglio_madonna]

Normally, Luce sees no reason to hide her dating life even with her celebrity status or her image within the band as it's "madonna lily". After all, why should purity and flirting be held so separately?

However, the case with Koumei is different. After all... He is from Pride Records, and that's a bit of daring Luce hasn't tried in her career before. Frankly, it's almost a little bit like being a teenager again: pretending to dress up, go outside on her business as usual, and then slip into somewhere secluded like a bathroom to make a Superwoman-like change.

The concealer and red haired wig were a bit new, of course, but that just makes it a little more fun.

It's only when she's arrived at the jazz bar and she's certain there's no newshounds about that she takes it off to stuff into her tote along with her coat and boots of earlier. She adjusts everything in the window's reflection, smiling in quiet pleasure as she adjust the flutter of butterflies that makes up her necklace.

Not her most extravagant outfit, but hopefully it does the trick.

Slipping inside, Luce can't help but laugh quietly as the notes of the piano greets her. "Oh, did I keep you waiting that long?" she teases as she closes the door behind her.

[dishevelment]

Her laughter echoed off the empty stage with the clarity of a bell, catching Koumei's attention even above the the warm crescendo of the music. He lifted his hands from the keys and, casting her a chagrinned look that reddened his ears, stepped away from the elegant old instrument to join her.

"It's never wise to waste a good opportunity to practice," he replied with seeming nonchalance, and cast her a warm smile.

"Besides, I wanted to make sure it was properly tuned for tonight."

Instinctively, he moved to straighten the sleeves on his shirt and smoothe out the wrinkles, as if he were a teenager himself. Showbiz was new territory for him and, though he was no stranger to dating, it had been quite a while since he had seen anyone like this.

[giglio_madonna]

The way he goes red earns another quiet laugh, and she starts to make her way across the bar. It's a sweet look for him.

"Well, it's good to have that kind of passion." Reaching the stage, she looks over the gorgeous piano before glancing up at him from the corner of her eye.

"It's what brought us here in the first place, isn't it?"

Totally passion for their work is what she's talking about here.

[dishevelment]

"It is," he said, stepping closer to her and offering a hand. Her graceful movements in the deserted bar were as natural as the daylight filtering in through the shuttered blinds and playing along the empty chairs-- she looked as at ease in this setting as if it were her own home.

"Have you ever tried playing before?"

The piano. The weird little game that the two of them were playing. Luce could take her pick.

[giglio_madonna]

Such a gentleman. Her shoulders shake along with the soft laugh that escapes fro her lips, and she lays her fingers along his open palm.

"Oh, I've toyed just a little bit, but nothing so serious like this." With her free hand, she brushes some of her hair behind the curve of one ear. "I think I've found myself in good hands, however."

[dishevelment]

"Don't worry, if that's the case. We can start slow, and take as much time as you need."

He chuckled as well, and gently guided her along to the bench where the both of them could sit.

[giglio_madonna]

"With that kind of care, I don't doubt I'm with a fine teacher." Sweeping her skirt beneath her as she takes a seat, Luce looks over the keys. Softly, she sweeps her fingers along the surface.

"So, where shall we start?"

[dishevelment]

"We shall start with getting to know the instrument as she is on her own," Koumei murmured as he took his place alongside of her-- close enough so that their arms were barely a hair's breadth apart. Reaching out with limber hands, he grasped her's and set them in the appropriate place on the keys around the middle C.

"The white keys are your standard notes. The blacks are the sharps and flats. It's eight white keys per octave-- the same notes, but a different manner of play than a bass.

"Any questions so far?"

[giglio_madonna]

Letting her hands be guided and trying to really focus on the actual part of the lesson that isn't just teasing flirtation, she gives a small nod as he starts to speak and explain. The keys feel smooth and beautiful beneath her fingertips, different from the tense eagerness of strings.

"White for standard, black for sharps and flats, and eight white per octave." She smiles up to him. "I think I understand so far."

[dishevelment]

He chuckled-- a low, throaty sound that started somewhere in his chest and wafted upward, as if upon the smoke of one of his cigarettes.

"You catch on quickly," Koumei said, glancing over with a sly gleam in his eyes. He delicately pressed down on middle C, letting the note ring out in the silence.

"The fingering is a little different from the bass, but not unlike typing. You might need to look at what you're doing for a while, but you will memorize it in time."

[giglio_madonna]

Now that is a beautiful sound. Just slightly, she leans a little closer to hear it better. Not so much as to forget the purpose, and she laughs quietly herself.

"Well, I am a musician already. I have a little bit of a better idea of these things than a complete beginner." The trick will be keeping all her instrument knowledge separate, but she's sure she'll manage somehow.

"So simple songs while I'm still starting out?"

[dishevelment]

Koumei depressed the damper pedal with his foot upon seeing Luce lean forward to listen, drawing out the length of the note for however long the strings continued vibrating.

"Of course," he replied, "although I can simplify anything you want to request. Once you know the base chords, you can start to play almost any song."

[giglio_madonna]

"Well then, I'll have to think long and hard what to request." It'll be some nice research. For now, she glances down to the floor to get a look at the pedals.

"So, do I learn those right away as well?"

[dishevelment]

"Of course."

He lifted his foot, muffing the sound as he did so.

"That pedal lifts the hammers that strikes the strings inside the instrument-- pressing it down will lengthen the note, if that's the effect you're looking for."

[giglio_madonna]

"Use right, it must be a marvelous effect..." This, she's murmuring more to herself than anything in thought. This may be a date, but she is serious about learning the piano. Putting it to her band's sound is what she's keeping in mind. Shaking her head slightly, she smiles up to him.

"So what's a good beginner's song?"

[dishevelment]

"It does-- and a talented player knows how to use it."

Chuckling, he began guiding her hands across the keys, miming how proper form was managed.

"You'll need to learn the right fingering, but...are you a fan of the Beatles?"

[giglio_madonna]

"Oh! I remember listening to them when I was younger." That's right, isn't it? It's a little off, but she's not thinking too hard about them. 'Younger', after all, is all her years before she joined Virgo Entertainment. That's a lot of time, and they are familiar.

[dishevelment]

Those times before signing with the label were hazy for Koumei as well, but he decided not to dwell on it. A rockstar's lifestyle didn't leave much time for conteplation, after all.

"That's good. We'll start with one of them. The melodies are simple enough for a beginner to learn, and the tempo has an even, controlled pace. They're perfect for someone who knows the basics of music theory and just wants to jump in"

[giglio_madonna]

"Sounds perfect!" Something interesting, but simple with a good tempo. What better could she ask for? With a teasing smile, she tilts her head as she glances up at Koumei.

"Then, by all means Maestro, show me how to do it."

[dishevelment]

"Chords first then; that'll be the simplest way to grasp the basics. We can work on individual notes later."

Then, guiding her hand, he lead her through the basic chords. The C, the E, the G, the lower A. All in Major Key first-- they would work on Minors another time.

[giglio_madonna]

"Sounds good to me."

There will be plenty of time to fine tune things, so to speak, and Luce is looking forward to every minute of it. Right now is the best place to start as she watches where he places her fingers. She lets him guide her through everything the first time, and second time goes at it alone. It's not entirely god awful, but Luce still makes a small 'tsk' with each messed up note that reaches her ears.

[dishevelment]

"Don't judge yourself so quickly," Koumei chuckled after the third or so 'tsk' that was uttered under Luce's breath. "You're doing excellent for a firt time player. Just take it at a slower tempo if it helps you feel better-- you'll build better confidence and skill that way."

[giglio_madonna]

Being caught at her own self reprimands is a bit embarrassing, and her sheepish smiles shows it. Oops. Oh well. He's a musician as well, so surely if anyone understands than he does.

"We're always our worst critics, isn't that a saying? I'll give that a try, however. Repetition sticks through eventually." She chuckles while going for a slower temp. "That's why people these days are so quick with typing on the internet."

[dishevelment]

"They also started when they were just old enough to tie their shoes," Koumei added while he watched her practice. "And many of the great pianists start at the same age. There's no way that anyone can be as good as them after one session!"

[giglio_madonna]

"You say that now, but just wait." Luce laughs, partially at herself. "Then some great genius will come along and prove you wrong."

[dishevelment]

"Are you implying that you're up for such a challenge?"

He glanced at Luce slyly, a glimmer in his eyes that seemed almost excited for such a challenge.

[giglio_madonna]

"Well, I won't make any promises..."

Grinning right back, she leans against him just slightly in teasing.

"But if I turn out to have mastered this song the next time we meet, don't be surprised." It's half jest, half serious. Of course she'll throw her all into this. What kind of musician would she be if she didn't?

[dishevelment]

Chuckling in amusement, Koumei reached up to gently poke Luce's cheek with a single finger.

"I look forward to being surprised. There's nothing better for a teacher than to learn that his student has surpassed him in skill-- I'll be very proud when that day comes."

[giglio_madonna]

Quick, to catch him offguard, Luce turns her head to the side to pop a kiss against the intruding finger.

"Well, you'll be glad to know I'm full of surprises." She seems just as amused as him.

[dishevelment]

The kiss was met with a chuckle-- and he quickly caught her hand in his own to intentionally place a kiss to answer her surprise with another.

"They're quite pleasant surprises as well, it seems."

He was teasing, but he was coming to look foward to finding out more of those surprises.

[giglio_madonna]

"They're the best kinds." Being teased right back has Luce's eyes nearly shining over her smile. It's tempting to keep going, but she manages to glance back down to the keys.

"So, keep practicing, right?"

[dishevelment]

"Of course. It sounds like you're getting the hang of things already."

She had the right idea-- and was talented on top of that. Luce would be a pleasure to work with.