Reward of Broadwood & Sons with a Song
"Mr. Golloson," Came Lenore's voice, sounding upset yet stern, "you've got no proof what's so ever…. Please don't blame us for their issues!"
"But there is my dear," Mr. Golloson snapped, "several witnesses saw you pull out a couple of guns at a crowd then head your way to the circus. Not only that, Javart, one of the gypsies there, said you attacked him!"
"That's because he vas vanting to sell Lenore for money, Herr Golloson!" Ulrich argued.
Darren up-roared in the conversation, "And he was touching her inappropriately—and you know what I mean, sir!" He exclaimed.
"Please sir," Lenore pleaded, "we haven't done anything, were leaving Paris tomorrow…. Won't you let us go?"
Mr. Golloson sighed greatly, "Well… I don't like those circus places…. Such a wretched place…. Just tell me, Lenore… did you have something to do with it…?" He asked.
Lenore hesitated, "…Y-Yes sir….," she whispered.
Erik felt his heart stop, bracing himself for what would happen next.
"……You probably had a good reason…. Yes? Not to just cause trouble…?"
"There was a very close friend of mind that I couldn't leave behind…. You must understand…….Sir……."
Mr. Golloson sighed, "Alright, alright but I want you out of here before dawn tomorrow, understand?"
"Yes sir!" They all said in concert.
"Oh and Mr. Golloson….. Thank you…. And erm….," Lenore said sheepishly.
"Yes, my dear…?"
"Your Piano… Your 'Broadwood and Sons' edition, ebony with ivory keys along with rosewood glazed with black and golden font on the front to show the creator…. Open case… perfect condition….," she said.
Mr. Golloson was quite in shock, "…….What about tha old thing……?" He asked quietly.
"……May I have it…..?"
There was a sudden, loud groans from Darren and Ulrich.
"Why of course, that damn thing's been sitting up there for years…. You can play the piano?" Mr. Golloson said, laughing.
"Yes, yes, YES! SIR! Yes I most certainly can, yep, yep!" Lenore said excitedly, jumping on the balls of her feet.
"Well, getting it out will be your problem, alright? By the way…. Breakfast smell's great!"
Then there was a slam of a door.
Erik walked down the stairs cautiously to see Lenore beaming with a wide, happy grin.
Darren and Ulrich rolled their eyes and sighed.
Lenore felt herself glowing on the spot, bubbling with happiness and excitement until it unleashed itself in a wild explosion, "YESSSSSS!" She shouted, jumping up and down all over the room like a madman, "A BROADWOOD & SONS GRAND PIANO! RUDDY ACE! FINALLY I FOUND ONE! IN SUCH PERFECT CONDITION AS WELL, WHAT LUCK---WHAT A CELEBRATION THIS MUST BE, LADS!" Lenore tackled both Ulrich and Darren in her excitement, hugging them both quite tightly until their heads banged together.
"Ouch---LENORE!" Darren shouted, trying to get loose.
"Lenore, you're strangling us!" Ulrich snapped, pulling away.
"Erik!" Lenore suddenly said, getting the idea of possibly causing him some minor harm as well, "I must tell him of the great news—" As Lenore went her way up the stairs, she made a sudden shout of surprise when she saw Erik standing with his arms folded, a single brow raised, and a smile. This caused Lenore to quickly stagger back, also making her trip over the couch and having her tumble behind it and land on her back with her feet in the air.
Erik sighed and shook his head, "Alright, Lenore?" He asked simply.
Lenore was quiet for a minute, catching her breath, "…I'm in the right, lad…. Though I've got a strong urge to drown myself in a bit of rum—BUT!—I'll be good and drink some water with rocks…," With a grunt, she rolled over back on her knees and grinned up at Erik, "Better, Erik?" She asked; her eyes bright.
Erik smirked and walked downstairs, "I am, without a doubt, much better, Lenore. Thank you for asking...," he said politely, leaning on the couch and staring down at her, "So, you do have a piano in your room, I take? Or the uproar you just performed was for your heath—but not of others?" He looked at the boys, rubbing their heads and looking annoyed.
Lenore smiled softly for a moment then quickly got up on her feet, "Right, you lot go an' sit down while I'll serve the food. Go on, go on! There's much to chatter about, that's for certain!"
Darren looked confused for a moment, "What? What food? And who are you? What am I?" He was exaggerating his bump on his head to be sort of memory loss. But, as usual, Lenore caught on and smacked him over the head for being cheeky.
Ulrich laughed and sat on the chair on the far right while Darren sat on the one on the far left. Erik stared at the couch and just assumed that was the place (and because it was the onlyblatant place) there was.
Suddenly, there was a song that was being sung out coming from the kitchen:
"Talking all the day
With true friends who try to make you stay
Telling jokes and news
Singing songs to pass the night away
Watched the galway salmon run
Like silver dancing, darting in the sun
Living on your western shore
Saw summer sun sets, I asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic Sea
And sang a song for Ireland"
To no surprise, it was Lenore singing her heart out just like she did when she was young (well, that didn't happen until the she was at the Masquerade, another story). It was one of the older songs, but this time she was singing in English so they could understand what the devil she was saying, Erik thought she did this because the boys thought she was singing about them rather rudely. Erik was thoroughly stunned on how Lenore's once high, child-like voice had matured into a soprano but slightly mezzo. She was in her own level, which Erik knew Lenore was quite happy with that, being the fact that she didn't like blending in with the rest of the crowd.
Lenore continued the song:
"Drinking all the day
In old pubs where fiddlers love to play
Someone touched the bow
He played a reel that seems so grand and gay
I stood on dingle beach and cast
In wild foam we found Atlantic bass
Living on your western shore
Saw summer sun sets, I asked for more
I stood by your Atlantic Sea
And sang a song for Ireland"
Ulrich had a peaceful smile on his face with his eyes closed, sitting in a straight position with his hands in his lap, listening to his friends sing in her sweet, memorizing voice which he adored since he first met her. Darren had his chin his palm, looking into space with a drunkish grin and his eyes droopy. Erik stared at the both of them, shocked on how Lenore's voice (he must admit, it was hauntingly memorizing) could affect the two! And then… Erik had a dark feeling…..
This was almost like the same position Christine was in…. Two men trick-happy over her voice, no doubt possibly in love with her…..
Wait, wait, wait! Erik thought to himself furiously, They're handsome, young men. Who am I to say they don't have lovers where they live? I need to ask…But……Darren's always been obsessive with Lenore, even when he was sixteen and she was twelve……Lenore disapproved because he was much older than her at the time and he said he'll just 'hang around' until she was……Erik then blinked hard, his eyes at the center, I don't believe it, his little scheme worked!
Lenore walked in quite impressively, balancing three plates: one in each hand and one on her head with a grin and not minding it at all. In fact, she wasn't even noticing it, "Alright, boys—" she lowered down her left hand to set the plate on Ulrich's lap, strolled over to Darren and set the plate in his lap then bowed down to Erik, "…and your plate, sir."
Erik chuckled and took the plate, "Thank you, m'lady, you may leave," He batted his hand towards Lenore playfully who scooted away sideways, grinning.
"Arent'cha gonna eat, Lenfore?" Darren muffled through a mouthful of hash which Erik and Ulrich scowled at.
"What the heck do I look like, eh? An octopus?" Lenore's voice came from the kitchen, and then she quickly answered, "DON'T ANSWER THAT, LADDIE!"
Ulrich and Darren laughed while Erik just smiled at the pleasant atmosphere. He looked down at his plate and saw three sausages, three strips of beacon, a side of hash-browns, toast and eggs. There was barely enough room for the napkin and tools!
Lenore walked in with her plate quite gracefully and sat down next to Erik with a smile, "Does it look good? I say you should have the first bite!" She said with a grin.
"Yeah, just incase Ulrich has gotten into a food-poisoning spree or he's wanting to test out a new damn chemical to see if we turn green or jump about fifty-feet in the air," Darren said casually.
All of them glared at Darren darkly, especially Ulrich who folded his arms and raised a brow, "That's wery immature of you, Jackel…," he muttered.
"Just want to make sure I have my youth, buddy," Darren said.
Erik snorted, stuck a fork into the sausage and took a bite into it. Then he slowly went pale….
Ulrich frowned, "Y-You don't like it, H-Herr?" He asked shakily.
Erik swallowed then looked annoyed, "I just don't like it when people cook better than I do…" He muttered grumpily.