Back again with Chapter 9 of For Whom I Play! I hope everyone is having a good holiday season and I hope everyone has a good New Year's. The next chapter will be on January 11, 2018. As always, if there are any questions about the story, feel free to PM me or leave a review. Song requests are welcome as well.

Chapter 9: Sweet Salty Christ II: Musical Boogaloo

At the end of the third day of practice, Sona and I had banged out our individual parts for the song. The next task was putting it all together, which of course was no easy task, considering neither of us had played together on a song before. Nonetheless, it had to be done. I walked out and climbed into the carriage that would take me back to the Laurent Mansion, and Sona came along as well, as was her custom.

She would be the one to break the silence. "You seem off today."

"I've been off for a few days. And something's even more off with Fiora. She's more or less avoiding me for one reason or another."

"Have you done anything that might put her in that sort of mood?"

"Not that I know of." My hands felt stiff, so I cracked my knuckles. Sona responded by cringing at the noise, which was louder than it should have been.

"Do you think it's because the real you didn't make it into the competition?"

"I doubt she takes that much pride in my playing. Everyone's more concerned with the Myriad. Of course, you and someone else I know might have something to do with that."

"It's not like I couldn't tell anyone. And you should take more pride in your music. Even if it's not the typical type, it's executed exceptionally."

I smirked. "Thanks, but I don't want it to go to my head, I can always improve on one thing or another."

"Speaking of improving, we aren't going to practice tomorrow. The annual Snowdown Festival is taking place, and the first day is the most important."

"And what does the festival entail? Gift giving and celebration?"

"That and houses are holding their respective balls."

I sighed. "Lovely."

'Concentrated pretentiousness, just what my doctor recommended for my heart. Side effects include nausea, irritation, and isolation.'

"You really don't like the nobility do you?" She glared at me, though not at intensely as she probably should have.

"Nope. Although I find it hilarious when they try and order me around. Already had it happen a few times."

"What happened?"

"I told them I answered to Fiora alone. I wish I could've told some other things, but I like my head where it is. Anyways, what's with these balls?"

"They're an extension of the festivals. Each house celebrates by holding a ball, and members of society gather to celebrate in their own way. In the case of your particular house, they try and use this opportunity to coerce Fiora to start courting them."

I started laughing. "Right, because she'll let that happen."

"Maybe the Myriad will take a crack at it."

"You wish. The Myriad will stay onstage, where he belongs. I'm using the mask to make sure I get through unscathed, not to get to Fiora."

"And yet you're thinking about doing just that. Seems the Myriad will join the crowd this time."

"Doubt it, she'll have me playing for the ball, along with all the other minstrels."

"She'll have you playing by yourself, the people who are coming won't bring their players."

"Well I guess that saves me having to practice with them."

"Won't you have to practice regardless?"

"Not necessarily, I can just do requests. Or just do my own thing. The reason I had to practice the song we're doing is because I've never played it, so I had to make sure the sound was right."

"You can play by ear then?"

"Yep, it's pretty fun. It doesn't help me write my own music though."

The carriage rolled up to the Laurent mansion, and I hopped out, saying my goodbyes to Sona before heading into the house. Mauren was waiting for me there, and pulled me off to the side.

"Have you said anything to Fiora that might have put her in such a foul mood? She's been getting more and more irritable all day. I had to stop her from challenging a man to a duel because he didn't wear his house attire."

"I haven't said anything to her in days. She hasn't come and gotten me to play her a song for the past few nights. In fact, she's been avoiding me during the day too. I dunno to be honest."

"Well you should talk to her then, we don't need her in such a foul mood for the ball." He walked off, probably to make preparations. I stood there, debating on what to do or what might be bothering her.

"Alright, fuck it. Time to track her down." I started with her room, and after knocking a few times a maid came around and told me she was most likely in the parlor on the other side of the house.

'See this is why I don't like big houses, but at least I get my cardio.'

I followed the directions given to me, and after taking one too many wrong turns and retracing my steps, I finally arrived in the parlor. When I walked in, Fiora was facing a wall, working on some sort of painting.

'So you're saying that the joke about pretty pictures isn't a joke? C'mon Rito. Next you're going to say Darius actually plays basketball.'

She must've heard me walk in, because her head turned just a bit, but then went back to her painting. "Who told you about this place?"

"One of the maids told me, said that you'd be here. Lo and behold she was right. Whatcha been up to?"

"I've been sitting here painting for the past three days. What in the world do you think I've been doing?"

"Probably exactly that. You probably come here all day and paint until you're so tired you have to sleep."

"How do you know that?"

"I didn't, I guessed. But I guess it hit close to home, so….yeah. What's going on?"

"Like I said before, I don't need you to fall asleep every night, that's it."

"I meant why does Mauren say you're in such a bad mood?" I pulled up a chair and sat a few feet away from her. "He asked me to find out."

"I'm in a foul mood because you failed the audition on purpose for some odd reason."

"And why do you think I threw it? I just got nervous. Y'know, stage fright."

"You don't get stage fright. You played in front of the entire in when we first met. So why did you throw away that opportunity? And why are you going to Sona's every day when you're not even in the competition?" She placed her brush into a bowl of water and turned to face me.

"I go to Madame Buvelle's to practice, and she's the best to practice with."

"Doesn't that take away time for her to practice with Myriad? She's doing a duet with him for the competition. And yet you spend all day with her. You want to know the reason why I'm in such a foul mood? I think it's because you're the Myriad, and that you're putting the Buvelle house above the Laurent house."

I sat there, and I'm sure my eyebrow started to raise higher than even physically possible. But I decided to play along. "And if I am the Myriad? If I am choosing Buvelle over Laurent?"

"Then I'll kill you like the dog you are." She picked up the brush and pointed the handle at my throat.

"Alright, but what if I'm the Myriad because Mauren didn't want me to have a disadvantage because I'm Piltovan, and I'm sponsored by the House I'm already a part of?"

She scoffed. "I highly doubt you're Piltovan. Most of the common folk may believe that, but your name doesn't show up in any records from Piltover."

'And my house of cards is starting to fall. Clever girl.'

She stood up and looked down at me. "So, you have three things I want answered. I want to know if you are the Myriad, if you're planning on betraying this house, and I want to know where you really come from."

"What happens when I don't answer them?"

"Simple. I find a nice tree and ten feet of strong rope."

'Alrighty then. The jig is up. I've been had. Caught red-handed. Between a rock and a hard place. Yoinked by a Blitz hook. And once again, sweet salty Christ won't save me. I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids, and their dog. Although I'm pretty sure the mask will just remove the memories of this while I wear it.'

I sighed, knowing that she should've known about this in the first place regarless. "Fine, I'm the Myriad, no I'm not choosing Sona over you, and I'm not from Runeterra."

'Seems like I've already had this conversation this week. Thought you could keep it going didn't you Arthur? Yes officer, I thought I could keep the fact that I'm an interdimensional traveller under wraps, because who would believe that?'

"My question never had anything to do with either Sona or I."

"But you made it sound like it was."

"Because you're my minstrel. If I had my way, you would've even been in that competition. You were hired to play music for me, and no one else."

"That's not what it seemed like when you hired me."

"Things change."

"Obviously."

"Don't think anything of it. What do you mean you're not from Runterra? Are you from the Void?"

"No, I'm from Earth."

"You come from the ground, then?"

"No, I come from another dimension entirely. There isn't a name for the dimension, but the planet itself is called Earth. I didn't come up with the name, and please don't kill me."

She slowly lowered the brush from my throat and sighed. "Fine, but I also want to know why you kept this from me."

"I didn't want to, but Mauren told me it was probably better to. Anyways, you should be getting ready for whatever this ball thing is."

"As should you, you're playing for it." She got up and started cleaning off her supplies.

"Are you looking forward to it?"

"No. As you know, I'm unmarried, so all the hopefuls will be trying to make a good impression. It's quite annoying when you have a line of people waiting to dance for you."

"Why, because you can't dance with just one person?"

"No, because I have to stay dancing the entire night."

"Yeah that's also true." I got up and cracked my neck. "I'll go and get ready myself then. Good luck with the dancing."

"It seems I'll need it."

I left the parlor, and along the way to my room, Mauren stopped me, telling me that a suit had been delivered for the occasion, and that I should try it on.

"By the way, Mauren, she knows."

"About the Myriad?"

"Yup. The entire spiel."

He didn't seem all that disappointed or concerned, as he only shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later." And there he went.

'You were the one who told me to keep it from her in the first place! If it wasn't all that important then why was it a secret in the first place?! Ugh. Many ughs sir.'

I made my way up to my room, and a suit awaited me there. The suit colors were inverted, with the jacket and slacks being white, and the dress shirt black. A black rose was embroidered on the left lapel, signifying my house. Below the suit laid a pair of black dress shoes.

'Are they Dr. Scholl's shoes? That would be nice. Now only if I had an awesome top hat.'

I got changed into the suit and went to find the ballroom in order to find the best place to set up shop. When I got there, I realized Mauren had taken the liberty of setting up a miniature stage with a grand piano on it. He was standing next to it, as if he was ready to sell it to me. He met me halfway when I walked toward him.

"I see the tailor still has your measurements right. Everything's all set up for you, and you won't be singing, only playing. Since you won't be using your voice, I figured that you'd like a louder instrument."

"That's very thoughtful Mauren, damn. And the piano looks brand new."

"It is."

I gawked. Back home, this type of piano would cost close to a hundred grand, if not more. "You bought this for me to play? Christ Mauren I'm not Beethoven."

"Who is Beethoven?"

"A musical genius, that's who. Although he's not heard of around here, more in Piltover than here."

"Nevertheless, you needed an instrument that would be heard throughout the room, and here you are."

"Mauren, let it be known that you are fucking awesome, and may you live a long a happy life."

"Thank you, but watch your profanity."

"Right." I sat on the bench, warming up my fingers for the long night ahead of me.

'Oh boy it's time to figure out what I'm gonna play. Not November Rain, that's for sure. But maybe some arrangements for others. I wonder how Red Hot Chili Peppers sounds on piano? Eh, I'll find out later. There are more important songs to play.'

Thank you all for reading, and I'll see you next chapter!