Ways of knowing

This story should be listened to in triplet time, if possible.

There had been a sort of catharsis after… after Rachel. Once he'd visited her grave.

Alec had gone back to his dingy apartment, and sat on the threadbare couch, and… well, nothing. He would have cried, if he'd been an ordinary. But he wasn't, and crying wasn't something encouraged by Manticore. Still, you found replacements for these things.

So he'd allowed himself to let go of her, finally, after all this time. And then he'd sighed a deep breath, and moved on. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a little less darkness beneath his cheerful exterior after that. Then again, maybe not.

Either way, he had been getting a strange itch these past few weeks. He was even drumming his fingers against his leg as he walked up to Joshua's door. It wasn't locked.

'Hey, Josh, how's it going?'

'Alec!' Josh grinned a big cheerful grin. Alec wondered if maybe this was why people kept dogs as pets. They were always happy to see you.

'That a new painting?' Stupid question. Of course it was. Still, Joshua seemed to enjoy telling Alec all about the newest ramble of colours on his easel.

'Joshua number 85,' nodded Josh firmly.

'Excellent,' complimented Alec, squinting at the painting as though he could possibly comprehend what Joshua was creating. He took a little longer than was required to appease the dog-man, because maybe he was slightly nervous about asking what he wanted to ask next. Nevertheless, he'd come all the way across town for this. Might as well bite the bullet.

'Joshua… would you mind if I used your piano?' He tried not to sound awkward, although he was sure he failed at that.

Josh looked at him with his head cocked on one side for a moment. He seemed to be considering the X5 before him. 'Of course, medium fella.'

Nodding, Alec headed towards the basement where it was kept. Nothing else was said between them, and he was grateful.

He was slow, contemplative, as he folded the dust-sheet back. He guessed Josh had put it back in place after the events at his dinner party a few weeks ago. Alec certainly hadn't been back down here himself to fix it up.

For the first time in his life, the pure black and white of the keys didn't hold any negative connotations. The enforced study of the instrument hadn't included the art of enjoyment. And then it had been too closely associated with Rachel, and with pain. Now though…

A faint smile on his face, Alec tinkled at the keys. Stretching briefly he seated himself and ran a hand up the scale, eliciting a tinkling waterfall of notes. Maybe this was why Josh painted. There were things inside that they'd never been allowed to release. Ironically enough, Manticore had given him the very means with which to expunge their mark upon his soul.

Closing his eyes to better focus, Alec simply laid his hands on the keys for a moment. He let his mind clear. And then he played.

Upstairs, Joshua put his paintbrush down and listened. A small smile played around his lips. Maybe it was time to repaint Alec. It seemed the man was beginning to know himself.

fin