18th June '882
Oh, these past few weeks were tiring indeed. I did not have the time to write a journal as I was so busy getting ready for moving out of the House by the Lake for good and NEVER ever return. I did not even have the time to die, maybe that's why I am still alive and did not die of overstraining myself. But hurry and fuss WORTH it as I don't ever have to go back to the Opera which I called my home for a decade, as I felt I needed to stay content with that cellar, and I should not yearn for a normal home for myself.
I was so- so tired of living five floors underground in a dark damp moldy cellar, slowly going insane by the lack of light, fresh air and the constant need of illuminating the rooms at broad daylight and by the fact I had to look at my watch in every hour not to lose track of time. Moreover, that bat cave was nearly impossible to heat up during winters. Juti always complains I keep the house too warm for her taste, but I am cold even with all the fireplaces working sometimes. I do hope this problem stops happening in here…
Yes, HERE!
As I can happily say we are at home! Our new home, which is wholly done and furnished, and all our necessities are finally here. I still have to unpack some boxes, but the majority of the work is already done. I am glad to finally be through this all moving – how I loathe to move, I cannot express. All the fuss with the packing… And I am sorry to say so, but Juti is terrible at packing things. I fill up a box with exactly twice as much things than her, so I had to adjust everything she put in the boxes to save up space.
I did not even think I had so much necessities I got for myself over the years. As I did not wish to have so many unnecessary things with me, I made another huge cleanup of my belongings. For example the things I kept in my storage room were to stay there for good. They were mostly things I saved from my Mother's house. Handkerchiefs, dresses, shoes of all kinds, books she loved to read but I found too boring, and so on. Most of them were never used. The dresses weren't Juti's size and even if they were, they were way out of fashion by now. I also had to clean up the papers from the desk drawers, which made me realize Juti was just as clingy to stupid memories and inanimate objects as I was. She fought with me over each scrap of sheet music, claiming they would be "good for later" or "too good to throw away". I had to ask her many times not to bother the pile I labelled as "trash" and not to save up anything from there. I almost left the Christmas decoration box in the storage room, not totally accidentally, but Juti thinks of everything, so Christmas ornaments come as well. So… finally I was partly able to let go of the past. Not all of Mother's stupid belongings were packed… I feel I saved even more things still than I should have needed and I am sure I am not going to use all of the objects I finally packed away to keep, but it was a good enough start.
Dissembling, carrying and reassembling furniture was also a pain in the butt, but it was to be expected. I had to do this earlier as well, and hopefully I do not have to do it anymore in my life. The thing which annoyed me even more was I constantly had to repeat everything over and over to Juti, who seems to sit on her ears when she wants to prove me something.
"Put it down. It is heavy. No you cannot lift it up. I told you. Don't pull, rather push, if you have to. You are not allowed to lift heavy things, how many times I have to tell you?"
And so on, and so on. She knows well she isn't allowed to lift up things heavier than five kilograms as her operated eyes can get damaged from great effort and she goes blind. But no, she has to show me she is hardworking and strong enough to move, for example the piano. The goddamned grand piano even I have trouble moving as a grown – up man who had spent his life carrying heavy things. And she, as a young and physically unhealthy girl wants to prove me she can be helpful and always chooses the heaviest things possible to carry. She kept reminding me of my age when I wanted to move something, just as if I wasn't sure I am old. Thank you for the reminder, my love…
We had help, of course, partly because I did not want this little silly to really overstrain herself at a point, and because I could really use some help – other than hers. Of course, I had someone who always helped me, though I did not think he will agree this time, especially after I nearly killed him a few months back, but he offered his help… because of only Juti as he stated. He was always this strict looking and I know he never means what he says. I can't take him seriously any more. Neither can he take me seriously mostly, so we are fine together, not really trusting, but mostly helping each other. As I noticed, he is a bit of cautious and afraid of me, but I could tell this about anyone else I know save for Juti.
She was never truly afraid of me, and nowadays I think she thinks me as her cuddly skeleton baby she can pamper all the way she wants to. And I had to realize Juti really liked the House by the Lake.
While we were moving furniture I noticed Juti walking around in the rooms, seemingly examining them for a last time just as if she was saying good bye to this miserable place of my endless solitude and sufferings. I wondered how she could love this tomb, when I always hated it more than anything. I could not wait to finally finish moving, and she looked a bit of sad she had to leave this place. I aged 25 years in here in the past decade.
Yet saying goodbye wasn't all about walking up and down in the house. Of course, she had to make trouble. While I was moving the desk from my room I noticed my bag was missing from the organ. The keys… and I already knew where they were. Of course! She was wandering around in the torture chamber with her phone, using it as a lantern. She at least left the door open.
- What are you doing? – I moaned in displeasure, of course not like I did not notice it. She was already examining the Punjab string, trying to guess how it works. – Don't you have anything else to play with?
- I just was curious. – She walked next to me, still carrying the string. – Will you teach me how it works?
- Shall I show it on you or what? - I snorted.
- Rather not on me.
- I have already told you it is dangerous. And what are you doing in my forest?
- You never showed it to me, though I know where you keep the key and I could not leave the house without looking around in here.
- You will once kill yourself with your inquisitivity. – I sighed, shaking my head.
I knew I had to keep an eye at her always, as she had already tried to enter the house through the Torture Chamber from 3rd cellar and only God helped her not to smash her skull against something or fall into the lake, and though she wasn't able to swim, she tried to row standing as she saw it from me, which made me yell at her for half an hour afterwards. The problem was she already got used to my temper and she wasn't any more afraid of me, which was partly pleasing, but I felt she did not take me too much seriously any more. She knew that I yell at her for some time, calling her various things in my outrage and I gasp and stop yelling if she unexpectedly hugs or kisses me, and as she found out my weak spot and knew I would not hurt her after such an act took away most of my power in her eyes.
She looked around once more in the now empty Louis-Philippe room and walked after me obediently when I took her hand.
- Come as you will end up causing trouble for yourself. I give you a task: you will need to keep an eye at the things we leave temporarily in the cellars.
I really could not give her other task to do, but I at least hoped she will stop working her little mind on insane little expeditions staying with the furniture. She could do terrible things when she was bored and had nothing to do and her fantasy kicked in. Just like me in a way. Oh how many times I did something stupid because I was bored… Boredom is the playground of the devil, I daresay.
Mohammed- Ismael was watching Juti and me suspiciously most of the time, yet I did not care about him too much. If I cared, I'd have made sure he regrets that letter in which he miscalled me, though nowadays I have to admit it was for a reason he did not trust me anymore, and maybe this fact helped me to shut my face. I did not want comfrontations. Seemingly neither did the Daroga, thankfully. He was surprisingly silent and less nosy compared to his usual self. He was only observant, but that was to be expected after so many years he spent as a chef of police. Sometimes I saw surprise in his glance as I talked to Juti or gave her smaller tasks to help us without causing her too much physical work, and the Persian fool seeme like sometimes he did not believe his eyes.
We had to spend weeks together with him, and day by day he became kinder to me, noticeably. I did not know what has gotten into him, maybe he is turning an old sentimental with the years. He isn't turning any younger either, of course, yet he is still younger than me by two years- I am the oldest of this group… I don't even dare to think about this fact.
As we finally finished furnishing the music room as well, the first unexpected music lesson took place between Juti and the Daroga and it made me learn something:
Juti is an excellent teacher.
Remembering back the old days in Persia when he nagged me to teach him to play music I had to make the conclusion he was utterly hopeless and tone deaf. Even if he tried to whistle he ended up being off key, he had no sense of rhythm, he was untrainable. He made me lose my patience several times, though it wasn't hard as I was much less patient in my youth…
Yet I had to face the reality that Juti was able to make him play music. By the end of the first lesson she succeeded in teaching the old fool the main melody of "Frére Jacques" by right hand and she was helping him with the accompaniment by left hand, just as she did it to me when I had my arm broken. It was a miracle she got so far with him in one single lesson (though it lasted for two hours)…Back in Persia I was struggling to make him understand the concept of scales and tonality, as it was required for later practicing and etudes, but Juti reached the subject from another point of view. We don't need scales for hobby music, she said. Why would a person who does not want to play music as a profession, shall know about music theory and be able to read sheet music? True, I have to agree that hobby musicians don't necessarily need these knowledges, and I know they are not requirements for playing IF said person has a moderate hearing and musical talent, but I did not consider the Daroga to have any kind of talent, so I would rather choose to teach him the basics first, but I had to realize Juti's method worked better with the Daroga than mine.
She was playing games, just as she usually did so, and playfully taught the old Persian cop. I know about the concepts of teaching someone by playing with them, but I never liked this method, it never fit me. An old skeleton won't fool around, blindfolding a person and asking them if the note he heard was higher or lower than the other one. Yet it worked. Also she teaches the Daroga to clap back rhythm patterns and to (oh Lord help me) sing back what she had sang earlier. My ears are still in pain after the last session of that sort, but I have to admit the Daroga is developing. Slowly but steady. And Juti is so enthusiast about giving lessons. This is going on for two weeks, the Persian shows up in my home every afternoon and spends a good 1.5 hours with Juti and learns.
I do not interfere in these lessons as they are not my business, but I like to passively examine them. I sit here in my favorite armchair in the salon, pretending I am reading, and I am listening and watching them in the neighboring room as they have a lesson. I don't show my excitement about the Persian's progress, and sometimes I can't help sending sarcastic little remarks about his abilities to him as I carry them tea or coffee after they finish. I always do as a polite host, shall I not be remarked about not being kind enough to guests.
Today, as I again showed up with a tray and a pot of coffee with three cups, the Daroga happily announced me he was now able to play another song. I nodded and dryly congratulated him, but put my hand on Juti's shoulder and patted it.
- It is only because you have a marvelous teacher. – I smirked and looked at my dear little lover who seemed to get much surprised and shyly covered her face after my remark.
- It is true. – The Persian nodded. – Without you I'd never have learned these things as your dear husband to be never bothered to show me.
- I am impatient. – I admitted with a sigh. – Did you really call me her "husband to be"? – I added with a sudden realization. – I thought you did not want the relationship between us to turn any more serious.
- There was a time I was worried about her safety. – He nodded.
- Just talk about me as I wasn't even here, guys. – Juti sent us a half sarcastic giggle, shrugging. – You maybe could even switch to Farsi or Russian or any other language I can't speak.
- You CAN speak Russian, my life and its meaning. – I pointed at her. – You were reading my copy of Anegin the other day, out loud. Not the most perfect pronunciation and intonation, but you were fairly good at it.
- I only know the alphabet. – She admitted. – I had no idea what I was reading.
- I would better be careful with your language learning skills as you might end up learning phrases in a language you hear a lot. I noticed you have excellent memory.
- Thank you. – She blushed again.
- You are lucky to have this kind hearted young and talented lady with you, you old troublemaker. – The Persian cop replied.
- Indeed, I am. – I nodded, smiling at her, and I stroke her hand with the most thankfulness and adoration I was capable of.
- Do you still plan to marry her? – He inquired yet again.
- My intents never change.
- He just delays it always. – Juti snorted with disappointment. – I would be his wife for months if he did not want to finish this house first, and still I am not sure what he is waiting for.
Juti's POV
Erik looked at me with surprise and a bit of discomfort at my remark but after he smiled at me and stroke my hair with a trembling hand. I really did not know what we were waiting for. If I knew it right we still had to wait some time, maybe months after we applied for a civil wedding, as I knew it was 3 months with 2010s Hungarian law. If it works like this here as well, I really don't know wat are we waiting for still.
The house was all furnished, we bought even new furniture, for example a desk in my room which I was all thankful for, as the furniture from the House by the Lake were already too little amount for this huge house. Now everything was fine, we were living there for two weeks, and Erik tok back the stupid habit of making me sleep separatedly from him, only by the time I got used to us sleeping together. I also received a single bed in my room, it perfectly fit, sadly. Yet a cottage piano did not, thanks the damned single bed thank God. I am not getting to the piano from him lately, only when I have a lesson. I WANT an own piano. This happens with two musicians and one instrument.
- So what are we waiting for, sweetie? – I asked again, demanding a reply.
- We will talk about this later. – He informed me shortly.
- No. – I shook my head.
- Not in front of the Daroga, please. – He switched back to Hungarian, as this was a language the Persian did not speak.
- I think he is freaked out. I think he is coward and got scared of marriage, don't you think? – I turned to the Daroga, speaking in French.
Erik was shaking, I don't know if from fury or nervousness, but finally he just collapsed on the piano bench, with a deep sigh.
- Two withnesses are needed for a wedding. Both in a civil marriage and at church. As you are not baptized, church wedding isn't an option. Yet I'd only need TWO people for the wedding, because I was so goddamned popular in all my life, I can't exactly search up for TWO other people.
- Here is one. – The Persian pointed at himself.
- You? – Erik gasped. – You swore to Allah you will never ever help me with this when I asked you a few weeks before.
- Erik, I am not going to lie. – The Persian sighed. – I know you for a long time, and the things you committed earlier with Mademoiselle Daaé… you know why I said what I said. But… looking at you two in these past weeks made me change my mind a bit. I see you love this kind girl and she loves you too. I am still not a hundred percent sure you are the perfect couple, but you are trying hard. And… if it is still your intent, I am going to offer my help with this.
- Huzzah! – I jumped up and hugged the Daroga, and kissed him on the cheeks to thank him. – Hear me Erik, we have your best man.
- And you? – Erik asked with an awkward little smile. – You… know no one.
- As you imagine. – I snorted. – Who is my sister?
- Oh no. – Erik sighed.
- Yes yes yes. Or else I have no other idea.
- She won't agree. – Erik shook his head.
- I think she will if I ask her nicely.
- She won't come here from Sweden.
- She already did so for an issue with smaller importance. Her sister's wedding is a big enough event, isn't it?
- True… - Erik scratched his head and let out a nervous chuckle. – Well… write to her… I can't… write nicely.
He stuttered, but after he stood up and walked to the Daroga, shook his hand with a grateful but nervous gesture, then bowed at him and came back to me to hug me close to himself to ease his mind.
- Everything is fine sweety. – I tried to calm him. – Here is your little wife and we will finally get married.
- I… I know… - He chuckled with tearful eyes. I could see his tears flowing down at the surface of his new human mask, and some of them flew under the mask, around his eyes. – Juti I am not afraid… on the contrary… I am happy… I could not belive it was going to happen… everything was against our plan… and I mistook them as signs… signs of we should not…
- Oh, you are very superstitious sometimes. – I laughed out. – How can you synchronize this trait with your side as a man of Science?
- I… I have a double personality… - He shook his head with a smile. – You know it already.
- I do. And I love that about you just as I love anything about you.
Erik gently kissed my forehead and stroke my face with his thumb with such an adoration in his eyes that I could not help but hugged him tight. He got out of my hug after some seconds as he got embarrassed by the fact the Persian saw us, and stuttered something about he needed to take preparations to our wedding, and chuckled something about "having a ton of things to do", so he hurried out of the room.
When the door closed behind him, we looked at each other with the Persian and started laughing at Erik at the very same moment.
