I can't remember who, but someone on the Isle of Awakening remarks about Den teaching Malroth how to play piano.
Also, thank you to StormfernOfUnderClan for your reviews! :D
He wouldn't be the master of destruction if he didn't know how to destroy silence.
Ivory Keys
It was a boring, rainy day on the Isle of Awakening and no one was doing much of anything. The Builder was away and working on one of the Buildertopia islands, and so Malroth was left to his own devices. He had no idea when she'd be back; she'd mentioned something about creating a floating garden, something about it taking at least a week, maybe a month if she had to get more supplies. Either way, he was bored.
The first few days after the Builder had left, Malroth had kept busy by playfully roughhousing with the miners in Scarlet Sands, spending hours at the Cerulean Steppe spa resort, and helping Rosie and the other farmers rid the fields of pesky weeds; he'd even spent time getting to know his monster followers, each of whom still regarded him with awe and admiration despite renouncing their destructive ways.
After helping anyone and everyone who needed help, whether it was lifting heavy stuff, destroying stuff that was in the way of their building new things, or warding off monsters that still wanted to hurt the people on the isle, Malroth found himself with more leisure time than he liked. It wouldn't have been so bad if his best friend were here with him... If anyone asked, he'd deny that he missed her, but deep down, he did miss the bubbly blonde. When she'd left, she took the sun with her literally and figuratively. It hadn't stopped raining since her departure and it left the master of destruction in a sour mood.
Malroth heaved a sigh as he sank further into the spa water. He wondered if maybe the next time she planned to go to one of the Buildertopias, he should ask to accompany her. If she protested, he could argue that she'd need someone to act as overseer, to keep everyone motivated to work hard. Sometimes people gave the Builder trouble, but one glare from him and they'd fall right back into line.
"Mind if I join you?"
Malroth looked up to see Lulu padding towards the edge of the spa, her towel wrapped carefully around herself. Her hair was down for once, pink locks resting around her shoulders in gentle waves.
"Knock yourself out," was his mumbled reply.
As Lulu eased herself into the hot water, she sighed as the tension left her muscles. Neither of them said anything for a little while, both simply enjoying the relaxing vibe of the spa resort. In the connected music hall, a few musicians were playing a lovely piece, Haydin's awful singing thankfully drowned out by the drums and cello. Malroth had been losing himself in the music since he'd arrived there.
"Alright, Malroth, spit it out," Lulu's voice drew him from his inner musings. "What's going on with you? Why do you look so unhappy?"
He couldn't help it. Lulu seemed to bring out his more defensive, argumentative side. "What's going on with you?"
"I asked you first!"
"So?"
"So answer the question, dummy."
"Nothing's wrong with me, but you, on the other hand..."
Lulu scowled at him. "You're so rude, you know that? Your atrocious attitude wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the fact that the Builder left, would it? Because if so, I shall have to have a long chat with her when she returns!"
Malroth sighed. How was it that the most annoying girl he'd ever met was also one of very few who were able to see right through him?
When he made no move to answer her, she gave a self-satisfied nod. "I figured as much. You're grumpy because you miss her."
He didn't want to admit it aloud; that'd just make him look pathetic. "Look, I just want to be left alone. It's why I came here in the first place."
"Well, I'm not leaving. This is a public spa; if you wanted to be left alone, you should have asked the Builder to make you your own personal spa room."
An awkward silence filled the room, heavy and unpleasant. It made Malroth want to get up and leave, hopefully to find another place to brood that didn't include Lulu's presence, but apparently the pinkette wasn't finished trying to speak to him.
"Just so you know, she'll be back soon," she said, her tone gentler than before. "I miss her, too. It's weird without her around but she'll be back before you know it. You should find something to pass the time, like a hobby or something."
"Like what?" he asked. No hostility lingered in his voice. "All I do is destroy so I can't make anything. What am I supposed to do?"
The pinkette raised an eyebrow. "You mean to tell me that with everything the Builder has built, you can't find anything to occupy your time?"
Malroth faltered. She had a point; the Builder had created numerous libraries, study rooms, spas, game bars, parks... you name it, she made it. The blonde's specialty was creation just as his was destruction, but with destruction came consequences. Sometimes if Malroth so much as lifted a block, it would crumble even if he tried lifting it with the utmost care. When he'd tried reading a few books in one of the libraries, he'd accidentally torn a few pages out when flipping through it. He was good at darts, he'd beaten quite a few people at cards, and he had no problem playing with some of the adorable cats and dogs that romped around Green Gardens. But what more was there for him to do?
As if answering his unspoken question, Dougie and Digby burst into the spa, both panting and heaving as if they'd been sprinting.
"Told ya... I'd win.." Dougie huffed, promptly falling onto his backside. "Cor blimey... I'm outta shape."
"The 'eck you won," Digby protested. "Me muscles'r bigger'n yours! I ran faster."
"Yer muscles ain't bigger!"
"You wanna bet, mate?"
Before they could start flexing and competing over who indeed had quality quadriceps, Malroth snapped his fingers to grab their attention.
"Did you guys run all the way over here just to race each other?"
"Right, right. Den needs ya," Digby said after he'd caught his breath. "Said 'e needs 'elp with liftin' somefin' heavy, told us to ask if ya were busy."
"Well, look at that," Lulu remarked, smirking at the spiky-haired male. "Now you've got something to do."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm going." Malroth slowly rose and began to wade out of the water, missing its heat once the cool air began to nip at his wet skin. He slunk off towards the changing room to grab his clothes.
"We'll 'ang 'ere and rest for a bit," Dougie said, his eyes widening when he realized just how luxurious the spa was. "Cor, it's right swanky in 'ere. Mind if we join ya?"
Both miners didn't wait for Lulu's answer. They made their way into the changing room, and at the slight whiff of body odor that followed them, her nose scrunched up in disgust. Perhaps she should ask the Builder to make her a personal spa room when the blonde got back...
"Thanks for yer 'elp, Malroth," Den said with an appreciative smile. "I dunno 'ow the lads would've managed to carry that."
The spiky-haired male grunted as he eased the piano down. Normally, two or more men would've been required to lift the instrument but Malroth wasn't most men. He'd been able to carry it all by himself with little issue. Part of him had wondered why Den hadn't asked some of the miners who were currently sitting on their butts sipping digger's jigger, but he also didn't mind. At least it'd given him something to do.
Once the instrument was safely set in place, Malroth watched Den lift the cover to reveal a set of ivory keys. He noticed the few black keys and tilted his head to the side curiously.
"Hey, Den." At his name, the bartender turned around. "How do you use one of these things?"
"You dunno 'ow to play piano?" It wasn't a question laced with judgment; Den didn't take Malroth for the type to be musically inclined, or to take any interest in music for that matter. He was merely surprised at the young man's curiosity.
When Malroth shook his head, looking somewhat lost yet still eager for an answer, the bartender smiled kindly.
"If ya want to play it, ya press the keys like this," Den instructed. He let his fingers drift over a few keys, earning lovely singular notes. Malroth was surprised at how much he liked the sound of said notes.
"Do you know how to play?"
"Sure do. Me missus used to dance to me piano playin' back when she was still wiv us." After a pause, Den tilted his head to the side. "Would you like me to teach you?"
Malroth nodded.
"Alright. 'Ave a seat and I'll show you the basics." Once the master of destruction had obliged, Den hit a few keys again. He explained how pianos, much like any other instruments, had notes and different chords worked. Malroth listened intently and watched eagerly as the bartender played a few basic songs, totally enchanted by the melodies. This didn't escape Den, who eventually stopped playing.
"Why don't ya give 'er a whirl?" he suggested. "It's easy once you get some practice in."
Malroth hesitated. "Are you sure? What if I break the piano?"
Den chuckled. "I doubt that'll 'appen. Just give 'er a try and if the piano breaks, I'll tell the Builder it was my fault. Go on, give it a try. 'Ere, I'll show you 'ow to play some of the songs I was playin' before."
To start, he began to play a few keys in a set pattern, doing it a few times so that Malroth could get the gist of what the song was supposed to sound like. After Den relinquished the seat to him, Malroth repeated what Den had played, surprise lifting his brows when he realized it sounded good. Not only that, but the piano remained intact; it hadn't crumbled under his touch like most things usually did, which was rather encouraging. He'd actually been able to play!
"It ain't so 'ard, is it?" Den grinned.
Before he could show Malroth any other songs, one of the other bartenders entered the room. "Mister Den, sir? I apologize for interrupting, but we've got a lot of customers tonight and we could use your help."
"No problem, I'll be right there." Before Den could bid Malroth farewell, the spiky-haired male suddenly looked up at him shyly. It was not an expression Den was used to seeing on the normally rough-and-tough man; if anything, it reminded him of when Babs was little and would tug on his shirt sleeve to ask him all sorts of questions about the world.
"Hey, do you mind if I stay here and keep practicing?"
The bartender blinked before laughing. It was good to see someone with an interest in music. "Not at all, my boy! I'll be in the bar if you 'ave any questions about the chords. Keep at it and you'll master it; piano playin' can be very relaxin' and it's a good way to take yer mind off things if yer ever worried."
With that, Den left Malroth to continue experimenting with the ivory keys.
Once Malroth learned a few of the basic songs, fast learner that he was, he approached Den the next day. The bartender had been very busy well until midnight the previous evening, lots of miners and villagers having requested some of his aged digger's jigger, a specialty that only he had been able to perfect. He'd gone to check on Malroth after closing time, but Malroth was no longer sitting at the piano. Figuring he'd gone off to fight monsters or get some shut-eye, Den retired to his home for the evening.
He was just finishing up his breakfast at the nearby restaurant when Malroth approached him. "Morning, Den."
Den beamed. "Malroth! Good mornin' to ya, 'ow goes piano playin'?"
"About that... I was wondering, are there any other songs you can teach me?" Malroth grinned proudly. "I learned the ones you taught me yesterday."
"Is that so?" Den placed his hands on his hips, a humorous twinkle in his eyes. "And if I quizzed ya on said songs, would ya be able to play 'em perfectly?"
"Is that a challenge?"
"You bet yer bottom dollar it is. To the piano!"
They both headed for the musical instrument, Malroth immediately plopping down on the stool. Den rattled off the names of the simple tunes he'd taught him yesterday and, sure enough, Malroth played each and every song perfectly.
Den clapped proudly. "Wonderful! You're a natural, my boy. You weren't kiddin' when you said you'd been practicin'."
"Is this all there is to it?" Malroth looked a little crestfallen. He'd actually been enjoying the challenge of figuring out which keys sounded good together and which ones didn't. This wasn't anything like fighting off monsters or solving puzzles, but it was fun in its own right.
"Oh, goddess no." The bartender chuckled. "'Ere, let me take the 'ot seat and I'll show ya 'ow difficult piano playin' can be."
Malroth allowed Den to take his place and watched as the man cracked his knuckles, placed both hands on the ivory keys, and began to play with both hands. The destructive male's jaw dropped as the melody, something vibrant and lively and complex, blew his basic knowledge of the instrument out of the water. As Den played, his eyes kept flickering from hand to hand, ensuring he was playing the right notes and remembering the right keys. He played beautifully and once he hit the final note, it was Malroth's turn to clap, eyes wide in amazement.
"That's amazing! Can you show me how to play like that?"
"Sure, but be warned, it won't be easy at first, so don't feel discouraged if you don't get it right away. Things like this take time."
Malroth grinned. "I think I can handle it."
"Alrighty. I'll show ya both parts of a simpler tune, the first song I learned when I was just learnin' 'ow to play more difficult stuff, and then I'll show ya 'ow to bring it all together. Watch closely, yeah?"
Malroth obliged, watching as Den first showed him the chords and allowed him to try to play them. Once he seemed to get the hang of them, Den began to play the main melody. After Malroth was able to learn that as well, Den clasped his hands together.
"Now that you know both parts, bring it all together." The bartender demonstrated playing both hands at the same time, one playing the chords while the other eased into the main melody. He made it look easy, as if anyone could sit down and bang out a beautiful song. However, when Malroth sat down and tried, he immediately realized just how difficult it was. One hand would play the chords, but when he tried to get the other to play the melody, his fingers didn't want to work. He was stuck only playing the chords and he growled in frustration.
"How the heck am I supposed to do this?!"
"It takes a lot o' practice," Den assured. "But the more practice you get, the more you'll get the 'ang of it. If it 'elps, take it one note at a time. Play the chords, keep playing them till yer sick of 'em, and try playing smaller parts of the melody. Play slowly and keep at it."
Malroth did as Den suggested, playing the chords and what he knew of the melody, taking it one note at a time per the older man's instruction. Whenever he became frustrated and wanted to give up, Den kindly encouraged him to keep trying, that it wasn't easy but that that was the fun of learning how to play music.
The Builder yawned and stretched as she stepped off of Brownbeard's ship. It had been three weeks, almost a month since she'd left the Isle of Awakening and she was glad to be back. While the Buildertopia she'd been working at was now even more beautiful, with a full-fledged floating garden and a village entirely on stilts, the Isle was her home. She enjoyed helping people and she enjoyed building, but part of her hated to be away for so long... Especially when it meant leaving Malroth behind. She'd wanted to invite him, but he always seemed to be content to remain on the island.
After thanking Brownbeard for carting her to and from the Buildertopia, she headed up to Green Gardens where she expected her best friend to come running towards her. He wasn't the hugging type, but he was always up for a high-five. The Builder smiled at that; she could practically already hear that boyish chuckle and the bombardment of questions concerning her trip.
Much to her surprise, however, the tough male was nowhere to be found. No matter where she looked, she didn't spy that familiar spiky ponytail or those bright orange pants. She spied Arisplotle and Gremville relaxing near the waterfall, who immediately brightened at the sight of her.
"Builder!" they cried simultaneously. Arisplotle bounced up to her, wobbling with excitement as he asked, "How was your trip? Did you goo on any interesting adventures?"
"I'm afraid not, but I did get a lot of building done," she replied, offering them both a grand smile. "How are you guys doing?"
"We're ecthellent!" Gremville hopped upwards. "That new thpa you built hath been doing wonderth for my wingth when they get thore."
"Great! I'm happy to hear that," the blonde cheered. Then, "Have either of you seen Malroth, by any chance?"
Gremville shook his head while the metal slime moved in a circle. "He might be in Cerulean Steppe. Last slime I saw him, he was gooing to the spa."
At that, the Builder thanked her friends and ran in the direction of the Isle's snowy settlement. After saying a quick hello to some of the Moonbrookians, she followed the sound of clashing metal, eventually ending up in the training room, where two familiar soldiers were sparring.
Anessa grunted as Zara attacked, their swords clashing harshly. Through their sparring, the violet-haired woman glanced at the Builder as she approached. Her gaze was cold and calculating, but the blonde knew such an intimidating expression wasn't meant for her. Anessa was a woman of war; she was simply in battle mode.
"Builder, how nice to... See you!"
Zara yelped as the violet-haired woman pushed her back, parrying out of the way as Anessa struck at her. The blonde soldier offered a friendly wave to the Builder before returning her attention to the mini-battle at hand.
"Have you guys seen Malroth at all?" the Builder asked. She watched as Zara traded blows with Anessa, the blonde gaining the upper hand more than once. Finally, their swords locked in a stalemate, the general shook her head.
"Nope, haven't... Haven't seen him! GRAAH!"
With a burst of energy, Anessa pushed forward, their stalemate temporarily broken as Zara jumped backward just as Anessa struck at her. The Builder decided to let them continue their session, the sound of clanging swords growing fainter as she began her journey towards Scarlet Sands.
As soon as she entered the warm climate of the desert oasis, she realized she'd been stupid to check everywhere but Scarlet Sands. Malroth had a whole bunch of miners to spar with here. He could spend hours in the massive, luxurious pool, and he could sip digger's jigger to his heart's content. Dougie and Digby often gave the destructive young man a run for his money when they roughhoused, so of course he'd be here. This should've been the first place to look; she mentally face-palmed.
Villagers and miners alike greeted the blonde as she passed them, and she offered a kind wave in return. Just as the Builder was about to head towards the golden bar where she could see Den wiping down the counter, a beautiful melody caught her ear and she paused, listening. It was piano music; someone was playing in the main dance hall where Babs usually taught and performed the Khrumbul-Dun Rhumba. Most of the people were flocking to the pool or the bars, none of them really paying attention to the music that wafted out of the pyramid.
Curious, the Builder headed inside, shocked to see a certain someone sitting at the baby grand piano she'd spent hours crafting and polishing.
Malroth's fingers glided across the keys with poise, like he knew what he was doing. The Builder watched in awe as he coaxed a lovely, lilting song out of the stringed instrument, his eyes flickering between both hands to ensure he was playing correctly. She'd only ever seen him that focused when he was fighting. When he finally finished, hitting the last note softly, she couldn't help but applaud him.
Malroth jumped and whirled around. He hadn't heard anyone sneak up on him, but to his shock and delight, it was just the Builder. She was beaming at him, eyes alight with the same happiness that others often looked at her with after she'd built something. He blushed under her applause.
"I didn't know you played," she commented, sitting next to him on the stool and nudging him playfully. "You're really good."
"Thanks."
"When did you ever learn piano? You never struck me as the musical type."
"Den taught me," he replied. "After I helped him move some stuff, he offered to teach me. I've been practicing for the last two weeks."
"You're a quick learner, then! My mother once tried to get me to learn, but I didn't have the patience for it."
At that, Malroth chuckled, sarcasm dripping from his tone as he quipped, "You, impatient? I had no idea."
"Hey, watch it." She nudged him again, but the grin on her face indicated she wasn't the least bit offended. "Seriously though, you play beautifully. How many songs has he taught you?"
"A few, actually," Malroth admitted. "At first I thought my brain was gonna explode, but I learned them pretty quick."
He wasn't the type to get shy or bashful, but in that moment, his cheeks and the tips of his ears grew a little red, and his smirk became a timid smile.
"Do you want to hear me play more?"
The Builder nodded enthusiastically, and for the rest of the evening, Malroth played his heart out for her.
From then on, the Builder made sure to keep a piano in Greener Gardens, where Malroth continued practicing and performing different songs for all to hear. She never took him for the piano-playing type, but she supposed it made sense that he had an ear for music.
After all, he wouldn't be the master of destruction if he didn't destroy silence.
